Speaking to the need

Angie Flynn-McIver

January 9, 2020

For several years, I sent out a blog to readers a few times a week. These posts gave pointers about how to practice, shared relevant stories, and provided a way for people to connect with my coaching approach. In 2022, I wrote my book, Before You Say Anything, which brought many of these ideas together in one place. The blog posts have continued to resonate with clients and readers, and they're useful as a quick reminder, so I'm including them here!

If someone tells you they are afraid, or angry, or worried, they are telling you an emotional truth. Responding with a rational answer doesn’t meet their need—if they were feeling rational about it, they would have said something different.

Answer the sense of their need, not your idea of how you can logically solve their problem.

Read more about Ignite’s Conversational Agility workshop here!

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Angie Flynn-McIver coaches senior leaders and keynote speakers to communicate with clarity, impact, and self-awareness. Her background in professional theatre directing gives her work a distinctive edge: she understands performance and what it takes to hold a room. She is the author of Before You Say Anything, co-founder of the award-winning North Carolina Stage Company, and holds both a PCC credential from the International Coaching Federation and an M.S. in Organizational Development and Leadership.

Angie Flynn-McIver Leadership Communication

Located in Asheville, North Carolina
Serving clients worldwide